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A woman was abducted by her child's father after being driven off the road near QVC's fulfillment center in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Tuesday morning, the Northampton County District Attorney's Office said.
The woman was abducted shortly after 7:15 a.m. at 3419 Commerce Center Blvd, where QVC Bethlehem is located, officials said.
Authorities said Ruben Carrion Melendez, 27, the father of the woman's child, drove her off the road and then opened her driver's side door. He forced her into the passenger seat, then intentionally crashed her car into a pole, according to a news release from the Northampton County District Attorney's office.
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Then, Carrion Melendez grabbed the woman's hair and pulled her into his car -- a 2012 two-door black Honda Civic, the release said.
Debris -- including a Nissan emblem -- could be seen scattered on the sidewalk next to a damaged light pole near the parking lot.
Carrion Melendez was being sought for kidnapping and related offenses.
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He was arrested about two hours later near the Holland Tunnel, which connects New Jersey to New York City, after Port Authority Police spotted the vehicle in New York, investigators said.
Investigators said two police officers saw Carrion Melendez's vehicle coming off I-78 after hearing the description. When the officers tried to pull the vehicle over at I-78 and Jersey Avenue in Jersey City, Carrion Melendez allegedly tried to escape and crashed into the police car. The officers then captured Carrion Melendez at gunpoint, according to police.
Police also said they found the victim who was taken to the hospital for evaluation.
The victim had an active protection from abuse order against Carrion Melendez for stalking, the DA's office said. Court records show that the most recent stalking/harassment charge came earlier this month.
It is unclear if the woman had any connection to QVC, which said it is cooperating with the investigation.
"The safety and wellbeing of our team members and community is a top priority and we are working with the appropriate authorities as they investigate this situation," QVC said in a brief statement.
Carrion Melendez was charged Tuesday with kidnapping, unlawful restraint, terroristic threats, recklessly endangerment and simple assault. He was detained and awaiting extradition. It was unclear if the suspect had an attorney who could comment on his behalf.
"Thanks to the excellent work by the Bethlehem Police Department and the Port Authority Police, we were able to quickly find the defendant and get the victim to safety," District Attorney Terence Houck said.
CORRECTION (Oct. 12, 2021, 11:19 a.m.): The Northampton County District Attorney’s Office initially gave the wrong name for the suspect. The correct spelling of his name is Ruben Carrion Melendez.
